Seven secrets behind Surah Al Fatihah

We recite Surah Al Fatihah over 17 times a day, but how often do we stop and ponder over the greatness of this Chapter. Here is a short list of seven amazing virtues of this short yet incredibly powerful chapter of Quran.

It is the greatest chapter in the Quran

When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said to a companion that he would teach him the greatest chapter in the Quran, he recited Surah Al Fatihah.

Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Mu’alla

While I was praying, the Prophet called me but I did not respond to his call. Later I said,

“Oh Allah’s Apostle! I was praying.” He said, “Didn’t Allah say:

‘O you who believe! Give your response to Allah (by obeying Him) and to His Apostle when he calls you’?”

Quran (8.24)

He then said,

“Shall I not teach you the most superior Surah in the Qur’an?” He said, ‘(It is), ‘Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. ‘ (i.e., Surat Al-Fatiha) which consists of seven repeatedly recited Verses and the Magnificent Qur’an which was given to me.”

Sahih Al Bukhari

It is a pillar of the prayer

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that

“Whoever does not recite Surah Al Fatihah in his prayer, his prayer is invalid.”

Sahih Al Bukhari

It is the Mother of the Quran

The Prophet ﷺ said that Al Fatihah is

“the Mother of the Quran, the Mother of the Book, the Seven Oft-Repeated Verses and the Great recitation.”

Tirmidhi

It is a cure for disease

A companion once recited Al-Fatihah over a scorpion bite, to which the Prophet commanded him saying

“How did you know it was a Ruqyah (cure)?”.

Sahih Al Bukhari

It was sent from Heaven as a light

An Angel addressed the Prophet ﷺ saying,

“Rejoice in two lights brought to you which have not been brought to any prophet before you, Al-Fatihah and the last verses of Al- Baqarah”.

Ibn ‘Abbas narrated:
“While Jibril was with the Messenger of Allah, he heard a noise from above. Jibril lifted his sight to the sky and said: “This is a door in the Heavens being opened, and it has never been opened before now.” An Angel descended from that door and came to the Prophet and said: “Receive the glad tidings of two lights that you have been given, which no other Prophet before you was given: the Opening of the Book (Al Fatiha), and the last verses of ‘al-Baqarah.’ You will not read a letter of them except that you will gain its benefit.”

Sahih Muslim

It is the seven oft-repeated verses

Surah Al Fatihah is the seven oft-repeated verses as mentioned in Surah Al Hijr, Verse 87. This is because it is repeated in every unit of prayer.

It is a cure for the heart

This Chapter contains a supplication for protection from misguidance and from the anger of Allah. This thus protects the heart from corrupt knowledge and evil intentions.